Proliferative Effects of Fiction. Mimicking Literature as a Principle Motivating Human Actions

Abstract

Based on the theory of fictional worlds we attempt to rehabilitate the mimetic conception of literature, though not of the reality-fiction continuum, which is sharply criticized with complete justification in the theory of fictional world. If we understand mimesis as the imitation of literature (not as the imitation of reality) then we can deduce a theory of fictional worlds from the long difficult-to-defend standpoint whereby literary works have radical autonomy.

Keywords

• Lubomír Doležel
• Milan Kundera
• mimesis
• fictional worlds theory
• René Girard